Colne accountant follows in tyre tracks of Jeremy Clarkson

A TRAINEE chartered accountant is following in the tyre tracks of Jeremy Clarkson after deciding to prove the outspoken Top Gear presenter wrong.

Dan Woods, who works for chartered accountants and business advisers Cassons, has had a lifelong passion for cars since being captured on a home video pushing a toy motor around a restaurant table at the age of three.

His interest grew to the level where he become a walking encyclopaedia on all things on four wheels. And, after taking up a challenge inadvertently set by Clarkson, the 22-year-old now has his own website.

Dan, from Colne, said: “I was on holiday reading a Jeremy Clarkson book, in which he wrote a very sarcastic piece about how anyone could be a motoring journalist. He said all you have to do is find somewhere to write and then, because you have a column, people are bound to give you cars. I knew he was really saying ‘it’s not that easy’, but I thought ‘I could do that’."

He sent emails to local publications and then gained a slot in a monthly free magazine. Dan, who was studying accounting, auditing and finance at the University of Lancaster at the time, then had a meeting with representatives of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

They put him in touch with the right people and, in September, 2012, Dan wrote his first review for public consumption. Since then he has enjoyed a constant flow of cars to test, and review. His most recent model, a Volvo XC60, came in for decent marks, although a Subaru Impreza remains his favourite. A V8 of some description is now on his wish-list.

Dan said: “This is a hobby that has gone a little better than anyone could ever have imagined and I think it’s always going to stay that way. I have always wanted to be an accountant. I want to qualify and become successful at that – and then I might be able to afford one of these cars.”

patriotno1 wrote:
&quot; A walking encyclopedia ON ALL THINGS ON FOUR WHEELS".and his favourite lump of crap is a impreza.

Most manufacturers have age limits on their fleet of 25 (and some higher than that) as is the case with most motor trade policies. It's the biggest barrier with what I do. The Impreza was one of my favourite cars I've been able to have on test for a week. I'm not saying it's my favourite car in the universe. Quite far from it in fact. But it was good fun.
Dan

[quote][p][bold]patriotno1[/bold] wrote:
" A walking encyclopedia ON ALL THINGS ON FOUR WHEELS".and his favourite lump of crap is a impreza.[/p][/quote]Most manufacturers have age limits on their fleet of 25 (and some higher than that) as is the case with most motor trade policies. It's the biggest barrier with what I do. The Impreza was one of my favourite cars I've been able to have on test for a week. I'm not saying it's my favourite car in the universe. Quite far from it in fact. But it was good fun.
DanSimply-Motor